WalMart and Marx

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how mega-retailer WalMart either typifies capitalism or communism. The paper illustrates how on the one hand, some call WalMart a company that is the perfect answer to workers' needs while still others almost consider WalMart to be part of the downfall of modern labor. The paper examines Marx's theories in light of the policies of WalMart. The paper concludes that both Marx and WalMart need to be viewed in the proper perspective. Both discount the value of free will and self determination, as well as the ability of the individual to advance themselves through hard work and thrift. Yet, WalMart does not imprison workers as Marx writes, since workers have free will. The paper stresses that there will always be those who take advantage of the weak and workers must be aware of their rights.

From the Paper:

"Marx's belief that the government in some respects contributes to the suppression of the people has grounds for validation even in today's modern times. Government complicity in the growth of WalMart has been seen in the United State's government's creation of legislation that allows huge corporations like WalMart to retain millions of dollars in tax savings through the creation of liberal capital gains tax laws (Moore, 40). Whether this is a conspiracy among the wealthy to continue lining their pockets or a sincere effort on the part of the government to provide employment for the common worker is debatable depending on the viewpoint of the individual, but a strong case can be made for Marx's downtrodden working class that he wrote about so prolifically."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Boo, Katherine. "Why We Need a New Marx; Because the Market Isn't Moral." Washington Monthly Mar. 1992: 11+. Questia. 8 Feb. 2006 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000136439>.
• Diggins, John Patrick. "Ordinary History: Our Modern Social Historians Often Invoke Karl Marx, but Have They Read Him?." National Review 23 Dec. 1996: 43+. Questia. 8 Feb. 2006 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002276406>.
• Edles, Laura and Appelrouth, Scott. "Sociological Theory in the Classical Era". 2005, Sage Publications- ISBN 0-7619-2802-2.
• Featherstone, Liza."Will Labor Take the Walmart Challenge?." The Nation 17 June 2004. http://www.alternet.org/stories/18965/
• Fields, Suzanne. "A Tarnished Camelot in the Age of Walmart." Insight on the News 28 Oct. 1996: 48. Questia. 8 Feb. 2006 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000418488>.

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